‘Keep dreaming’: NATO chief says Europe can’t defend itself without U.S.

NATO chief warns Europe cannot defend itself without U.S. support amid rising tensions and calls for increased defense spending.

NATO chief Mark Rutte warned on Monday (January 27, 2026) that Europe cannot defend itself without the United States, in the face of calls for the continent to stand on its own feet after tensions over Greenland.

U.S. President Donald Trump roiled the transatlantic alliance by threatening to seize the autonomous Danish territory — before backing off after talks with Mr. Rutte last week.

The diplomatic crisis gave fresh momentum to those advocating for Europe to take a tougher line against Mr. Trump and break its military reliance on Washington.

“If anyone thinks here again, that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the U.S. — keep on dreaming. You can’t,” Mr. Rutte told lawmakers at the European Parliament.

He said that EU countries would have to double defence spending from the 5% NATO target agreed last year to 10% and spend “billions and billions” on building nuclear arms.

“You would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the U.S. nuclear umbrella,” the former Dutch Prime Minister said. “So hey, good luck.”